Classroom Safety or "How Not to Lose a Job Teaching Science"
Objectives
Describe the legal and ethical responsibilities of science teachers for the welfare of their students, the proper treatment of animals, and the maintenance and disposal of materials.
List safe and proper techniques for the preparation, storage, dispensing, supervision, and disposal of all materials used in science instruction.
Review safety procedures appropriate for the activities and the abilities of students.
Introduction
Lab safety seems like a no-brainer. Students have to be in a safe environment everywhere at school. It seems straight-forward that if everything at school has been approved for school use, then the classroom should be safe. What's more, the classrooms where you are student teaching probably seem very safe.
Safe schools are not accidents (HaHa). When you enter your empty classroom next fall, you will be responsible for your students' safety. So what do you have to know? Do? Have in your room? Not have in your room? What types of actions (or inactions) can lead to problems that cost you your job? Today you will work in a group to assemble a Safety Reference Module that you will be able to use next fall to establish a safe classroom with a minimum amount of hassle.
Flinn Scientific Safety Page - Flinn is a scientific supply company with a commitment to lab safety. This link goes to their page dedicated to information and resources focused on laboratory safety, especially for chemistry classes. Flinn also has a page dedicated to lab safety exams and contracts .
NSTA - Safety Advice from Teachers - NSTA asked teachers to send in their safety advice. Teachers received a small payment if their tip was one of the best.
Flynn Science Department Safety Bulletins
A free laboratory safety-training program for junior and senior high school science teachers. Each month, Flinn Scientific sends out a 5- to 10-minute safety training lesson via e-mail. Training can be held as part of your monthly department meeting or organized as a short safety meeting. The files sent in these emails will be accumulated here:
Work in your group to use the reference materials listed above to complete a section of a safety module that can be a resource for you as a new teacher.
Be prepared to present your group's contribution to the class.
New Teacher Safety Resources
Title
Description
Group
A. Guidelines for Working Safely in the Science Classroom
Guidelines for students to have for working safely in the science classroom. These could be in the form of a booklet of rules and regulations that should be taught to students or in a series of posters that could be displayed in the classroom.
Specific guidelines should include: use of chemicals, goggles, using flames, glassware usage, proper clothing, safe behavior, working with animals, lasers, etc.
A safety quiz/test about the rules of safety in the classroom and what to do in various emergency situations. The quiz should be easy to grade.
Should include questions about: Glassware, Eyewear, Mixing chemical safely, working with flames/burners, lasers, lab behavior, fire response, fumes/odors, scapels/cutting, clothing/footwear, spills, and anything else you can think of
A design/plan of a typical science classroom/lab that pinpoints safety issues, such as chemical storage, projected traffic of students in the classroom, living organism placement, emergency exit information, eyewash, shower, fire extinguishers, fire blanket and similar information.
Plan should feature a classroom with a separate lab area.
You should use a drawing program or MS Word to create your plan. Be sure to create an annotated key that can serve as a safety checklist for a new teacher.
Safety contract should include: all the basic rules, regulations regarding science equipment/chemicals and working with living organisms, all previous listed guidelines for a safe science classroom. Should also include consequences for rule violations.
You should review and use the Flynn and NSTA safety contracts as models.
This is an example of one school district's safety contract: Safety Contract
E. Guidelines and Supports for Humane Treatment of Animals
Safe, ethical, and humane treatment of living organisms in and out of the classroom including: Humane and safe treatment of living organisms in the class as display or experimenting, limitations of collecting in the field, role of parks and reserves, protected and endangered species etc.
Include supports such as classroom rules, care schedules, and specific guidelines for for particular animals, and online reference sources.
Safety plan for safe storage, handling and disposal of chemicals including: Specific guidelines for use, storage and handling of all types of chemicals, guidelines for safe and legal disposal of chemicals, specific safety equipment used, and links to MSDS sheets for at least 10 most used chemicals etc.
Classroom Safety or "How Not to Lose a Job Teaching Science"Objectives
Introduction
Lab safety seems like a no-brainer. Students have to be in a safe environment everywhere at school. It seems straight-forward that if everything at school has been approved for school use, then the classroom should be safe. What's more, the classrooms where you are student teaching probably seem very safe.Safe schools are not accidents (HaHa). When you enter your empty classroom next fall, you will be responsible for your students' safety. So what do you have to know? Do? Have in your room? Not have in your room? What types of actions (or inactions) can lead to problems that cost you your job? Today you will work in a group to assemble a Safety Reference Module that you will be able to use next fall to establish a safe classroom with a minimum amount of hassle.
Online Safety Course
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Safety Resources Online
Flynn Science Department Safety Bulletins
A free laboratory safety-training program for junior and senior high school science teachers. Each month, Flinn Scientific sends out a 5- to 10-minute safety training lesson via e-mail. Training can be held as part of your monthly department meeting or organized as a short safety meeting. The files sent in these emails will be accumulated here:Learning Activities
New Teacher Safety Resources
Specific guidelines should include: use of chemicals, goggles, using flames, glassware usage, proper clothing, safe behavior, working with animals, lasers, etc.
Create your guidelines here: Safety Module - A - Classroom Guidelines
Should include questions about: Glassware, Eyewear, Mixing chemical safely, working with flames/burners, lasers, lab behavior, fire response, fumes/odors, scapels/cutting, clothing/footwear, spills, and anything else you can think of
Create you quiz in Microsoft Word and link your file to this page: Safety Module - B - Safety Quiz
Plan should feature a classroom with a separate lab area.
You should use a drawing program or MS Word to create your plan. Be sure to create an annotated key that can serve as a safety checklist for a new teacher.
Import your picture and add your annotations here: Safety Module - C - Classroom Plan
You should review and use the Flynn and NSTA safety contracts as models.
This is an example of one school district's safety contract:
Safety Contract
Create your safety contract in MS Word. When done, link the file to this page: Safety Module - D - Safety Contract
Include supports such as classroom rules, care schedules, and specific guidelines for for particular animals, and online reference sources.
Create your resource here: Safety Module - E - Animal Care Guide
Create your page here: Safety Module - F - Chemical Safety
Create your page here: Safety Module - G - Safety Responsibilities and General Tips
Assemble your videos and reviews here: Safety Module - H - Reviewed Lab Safety Videos